Obesity

What is obesity?

Obesity is when you weigh more than what is considered a healthy weight for your age, gender, and height. When you are obese, your body has more (fat) cells, and they are larger than normal. Obesity can occur at any age. Maintaining a healthy body weight is one of the best ways to avoid weight-related health problems, such as type 2 diabetes or heart disease.

Symptoms of obesity

Common symptoms with obesity include shortness of breath, increased sweating, snoring, and the inability to participate fully in physical activity. It is a condition that leads to other serious health problems. Each of those health problems has its own set of symptoms.

What causes obesity?

If you eat more calories than your body uses, the extra calories will be stored as body fat. Having too much body fat leads to obesity. Calories are the amount of energy in the food you eat. Some foods have more calories than others. For example, foods that are high in fat and sugar are also high in calories. Other causes that contribute to obesity include:

age

genetics (obesity can run in families)

poor sleeping habits

pregnancy

quitting smoking.

Some medicines and medical conditions can make it difficult to maintain a healthy body weight or to lose weight. Medicines include:

antihistamines, alpha blockers (allergies)

beta blockers, methyldopa (high blood pressure)

insulin, sulfonylureas (diabetes)

lithium (manic-depressive illness)

neuroleptics (schizophrenia)

progestins (endometriosis)

tricyclic antidepressants (depression)

valproate (epilepsy).

Medical conditions that can affect your weight include:

Hormonal disorders

polycystic ovary syndrome

Cushing’s disease

diabetes

hypothyroidism

Cardiovascular disorders

congestive heart failure

idiopathic hypertropic cardiomyopathy

heart valve disorders

Sleep disorders

sleep apnea

upper airway resistance syndrome

Eating disorders

bulimia

carbohydrate craving syndrome

Talk to your doctor if you think you have or have had any of the conditions above or take the medicines listed above. In some cases, specific treatments for your medical condition or a change in medicines can make a difference in your efforts to manage your weight.

How is obesity diagnosed?

A person can determine if they are obese by knowing their Body Mass Index (BMI). This calculates your weight by assessing your age, gender, and height. A BMI of between 25 and 30 is defined as overweight. A BMI of 30 or more is considered obese. Another sign of obesity is the measurement of your waist (belly). An unhealthy body fat distribution around your waist is tied to a number of health issues.

If you think that you might be obese, see your doctor. He or she will talk to you about any weight-related symptoms you may have. He or she also may calculate your BMI and measure your waist. However, there are online BMI calculators to help you do this yourself. Simply complete the profile information the calculator requires (age, gender, weight, and height). Also, you can measure your waist by wrapping a measuring tape around your waist (closest to your belly button). Your doctor can tell you what you a healthy body weight would be for you.

Can obesity be prevented or avoided?

Unfortunately, you cannot control some risk factors, such as your age and family history. However, you can reduce your risk of obesity by eating healthy and exercising. If your sleep habits are contributing to your obesity, talk to your doctor. If you are worried that quitting smoking will add to your weight, talk to your doctor about options. Likewise, talk to your doctor about other health conditions or medicines that may be adding to your weight.

Obesity treatment

Obesity is treated by losing weight—and keeping it off. Your goal is to lower your BMI to what is appropriate for your age, gender, and height. For women, your waist should measure no more than 35 inches. For men, that number is 40 inches. Losing weight is where most people struggle. Some can do it with diet and exercise, some may need to change their medicines, and some may require surgery.

Your doctor can help you decide what you need and what works best for your circumstances. Start small, and set realistic goals. Even losing 10% of your current weight can have substantial health benefits. Small changes can make a surprising difference in your health. Your doctor can offer practical suggestions that do not require a complete overhaul of your current way of life. In some cases, your physician may refer you to a nutrition specialist. This would likely be a registered dietitian. This person can provide in-depth counseling about food choices.

In some cases, diet and exercise alone may not be enough to help you lose weight. Your doctor may talk to you about prescription weight-loss medicines. These medicines are only helpful when they are used in addition to healthy eating and exercise.

Your doctor may also talk to you about whether you might be a candidate for weight-loss surgery. Weight-loss surgery (bariatric surgery) can help you lose large amounts of weight if you are obese. Just as with prescription medicines, weight-loss surgery is most successful when used as part of a long-term healthy lifestyle, including diet and exercise. Some of the more common weight-loss surgeries include:

Gastric bypass surgery. During this surgery, your doctor will make a small pouch at the top of your stomach. Your small intestine is then moved from the bottom of the stomach to the new pouch. When you eat, the food that you swallow goes into the new pouch and then into the small intestine, “bypassing” your stomach.

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (also called the lap band). In this surgery, your doctor will place a band, like a belt, around your stomach. It separates your stomach into two separate pouches. There is a small passage between the two pouches.

Bilipancreatic diversion with duodenal switch. During this surgery, your doctor will remove most of your stomach. Possible side effects include being unable to absorb all the vitamins and nutrients your body needs. Your doctor will closely monitor your progress after this surgery.

Gastric sleeve. In this surgery, part of your stomach is removed, creating less room for food.

Your doctor can explain the different procedures, risks, decide if you are a good candidate for surgery, and decide on a procedure that would be the best option for you.

Experts believe you should not try to lose more than 2 pounds per week. Losing more than 2 pounds in a week usually means that you are losing water weight and lean muscle instead of losing excess fat. If you do this, you will have less energy. You will most likely gain the weight back.

Losing weight is half the battle. Keeping the weight off requires permanent changes to your lifestyle. This includes a healthy diet and exercise. The support of your friends, family, or support group can help.

Living with obesity

Living with obesity will likely mean living with chronic health problems. Obesity can contribute to a number of serious health problems, including: